How Much More Can We Take???

  I try to be an upbeat guy. I try to be pretty positive. When I walk around my school, I feel good about what I see, the people I work with, the product they produce. The students here are great! The problem I have is the constant news that filters my way.

  When you are reading about 926 emergency certificates so far this year. The average teacher salary is worth $7,711 less today than when it was in 2009-2010. It would take a $6,100 to match the cost of living in Oklahoma and we are just trying like heck to get a $5,000 raise. Knowing the legislature passed a budget with $600 Million in one time monies and passed a tax cut to create a $700 million budget shortfall just has me wondering How Much More Can We Take?

  When I talk about the sales tax initiative with people I firmly admit that I am not a fan of sales tax increases. I truly believe they are regressive and unproportionately hurt poorer families. What I say though, is we have waited eight years for someone else to throw a lifeline and it hasn't happened. There is no real other choice. We have to get a teacher raise this way, even though it's not the best. My big concern is what if it fails? What if OPCA and the ultra conservative right spend enough to sway enough people to vote against it? What happens? Is that the last straw for the hard working teachers? Why wouldn't it be?

  I think it is imperative that we do all we can. Relying on a legislature, no matter how many public education supporters get elected into office, is not an option. I don't know how much more Oklahoma public education to take. We lose so many good people each year. The talent pool is shrinking. The experts are fleeing and we must stem the tide. State Question 779 is the first step, in my opinion, to restore public education back to being the cornerstone it has always been.